Aspiring to Be a Megaphone

"Nothing."

Black Snake's tone was quite lazy, even though he had just slept soundly on the carriage for a whole day.

Spellcasters always held a high status among adventurers, making it easy for them to obtain information.

To the point that New Star didn't believe him at all:

"Come on, Black Snake. Let's be honest with each other, alright?

Your team took on that treasure hunting commission and ventured deep into the Great Desert.

After completing the commission, you didn't hand over the treasure to the employer but kept it for yourselves.

You even fought amongst yourselves to get this treasure, and your entire team fell apart.

This is already common knowledge."

"Uh-huh?"

"Why don't you tell me what that treasure is and who has it?

Is it you, the dwarf, the warlock, the priest—or that old ranger, Markwen?"

New Star leaned down, his voice close to Black Snake's ear.

"It's been three years since you left the ranks of adventurers. So you might not have heard my name.

But that's okay, I can tell you that I'm very wealthy—how about I cover Lord Mel's losses for you, get you out of jail, and give you a mansion in Dragon Gold City?

Or if you have any other needs, feel free to ask, and I'll do my best to satisfy them—

All I want to know is what it is, and who hid it where.

That's all."

Mages were indeed among the adventurers who weren't short on money.

However, there were too many things in this world that money couldn't buy.

Power, talent, rare artifacts.

Perhaps due to historical neglect, most magical items, and even many standardized manufacturing methods, were lost in ruins and vestiges.

Nowadays, what mages create were more like imbuing items with enchantments.

This resulted in even artifacts with unique effects being uncommon.

Items like the [Intelligence Headband], which could directly improve personal attributes, were mostly priceless.

Black Snake, however, let out a cold laugh:

"What good would it do if I told you? Let's not even talk about whether you can get it. If you go through all the trouble and find out you can't even use it, wouldn't you be devastated?"

"That's a treasure left behind in the Great Desert. How could I keep it for myself?"

"Uh-huh?"

"A treasure you can't hold onto is just a curse."

As a seasoned adventurer, you should understand that better than I do.

Just like how your team fell apart because of it."

New Star waved his hand, as if mocking Black Snake's foolishness.

"If I were to obtain a treasure, I would naturally present it to the Wizard Tower and exchange it for a spot to study there."

"Excuse me, is the tuition for the Wizard Tower that expensive?"

Tang Qi had only heard a little about the [Wizard Tower].

It was located far from the continent, standing alone at the northern end of the Endless Sea.

It could almost be considered the highest academic institution for spellcasters on the entire continent.

High-level spells, and even some ancient forbidden arts, as well as the secrets of crafting magical items, were monopolized by various factions for numerous reasons.

And the related study methods, works, and records were the only way for spellcasters to climb higher—

Of course, with enough strength, one could also create a high-level spell themselves.

"There are only two paths to enter the Wizard Tower: sufficient contribution, or sufficient talent."

It wasn't surprising that New Star would lose his composure upon hearing such news.

For mages, adventurers were the most unpromising profession.

The reasons for becoming an adventurer were nothing more than searching for materials, ancient books, or treasures...

The reason he became the [New Star] among adventurers was likely also in pursuit of going to the Wizard Tower.

Tang Qi, on the other hand, was not very interested.

Just staring at the symbol and formula for a cantrip in Kuru's spellbook was enough to make his head spin.

"I only want the information. As for the treasure itself, that's a separate price—a very good deal, isn't it?"

New Star was still patiently explaining.

Tang Qi also patted Black Snake's shoulder and egged him on:

"That's a great deal. If it were me, I would have agreed."

He lacked interest in the Wizard Tower but was curious about Black Snake's treasure and the stories of the Great Desert.

After all, to Tang Qi, stories themselves were already a form of "future prospects."

"There's nothing."

"It looks like nothing," Tang Qi added in agreement when he saw the situation.

"What other conditions do you have? You can name them," New Star said, unwilling to give up.

"You can name them," Tang Qi turned to Black Snake.

Black Snake shook his head.

Tang Qi also shook his head at New Star.

New Star couldn't stand it any longer. He frowned, pointed at Tang Qi, and said coldly:

"Is he your mouthpiece?"

Tang Qi turned back again:

"He's asking if I'm your mouthpiece?"

"I can hear."

"He says he can hear."

"Enough, you bastard! Shut up!"

New Star lost his patience, wishing he could stuff a cork in that noisy mouth.

Tang Qi knew when to stop and leaned in:

"How about this, why don't we exchange? I'll ask you some questions, and he'll answer some questions for you. What do you say?"

"Who are you?" New Star hadn't properly looked at him before.

"Tang Qi, a graduate from the [Bard's Song] Academy. Our academy's motto is 'Aspiring to be a qualified noble's mouthpiece'!"

"The one from the Tyron Empire? I heard you often play music for the court and nobles. How did you end up like this?"

The academy was clearly more famous than the bard himself.

"If I can't be a noble's mouthpiece, just being a mouthpiece is also an alternative path."

Mages were generally scholars.

And scholars always loved peace and quiet.

This caused New Star to feel an innate annoyance, as if he was incompatible with bards.

He didn't want to waste more words on this noisy bard and simply looked at Black Snake:

"Does what he said count?"

Black Snake glanced at Tang Qi and nodded in silence.

Tang Qi didn't hesitate and directly asked the question he cared about most:

"First, I want to know what prompted you to arrive at the manor early and immediately turn back – what unexpected events did you encounter along the way?"

"Unexpected events? They weren't really unexpected. The forest roads were just difficult to navigate, we encountered some ghouls, and ran into goblins plundering in the forest. That's all."

"Your mercenary group has at least twenty fully equipped men. Just encountering these troubles isn't enough to make that Explosive Wolf so anxious."

"Firstly, I'm not part of their mercenary group, just cooperating with him. We're barely acquainted. Secondly, he's always been impatient."

"But he said you lost people."

"Just a few mercenaries who went out to scout around the camp."

New Star said dismissively, "Once you enter the depths of the forest, the mist becomes strange. It can unconsciously affect one's mind, causing hallucinations and making them unconsciously deviate from their intended direction. Those fools wandered too far. If they weren't careful and couldn't distinguish the direction of the camp, isn't it normal for them to get lost?"

No wonder they said the Twilight Forest was so eerie, and parties without spellcasters often disappeared from the forest...

So it was the illusions caused by the mist?

Tang Qi asked again:

"Then how do you ensure you don't get lost in this forest?"

New Star shifted his body and pointed at Young Master Melard in the camp behind them, who was savoring a medium-rare steak—

The construct eye on his shoulder was floating in a palm-sized glass bottle, scrutinizing their surroundings in a 360-degree sweep.

"There are many ways to detect illusions, such as renting an artificial life form that can see through illusions."

Of course, ordinary adventurers wouldn't be able to rent magical creations of this caliber.

Only the influential figures with status and power in Dragon Gold City would have the means to rent one at a high price—

Alright, you've asked enough questions.

Now, it's time to answer mine."

New Star didn't want to waste any more words with Tang Qi.

"What exactly did you find in the Great Wilderness, and who has it now—Shut up, I don't need you to repeat yourself!"

Tang Qi shrugged, abandoning the thought of repeating himself.

The Black Snake, however, kept its eyes closed and answered as always:

"Nothing."

"Are you toying with me!?"

New Star's face instantly flushed red, and he looked at Tang Qi in exasperation.

He never expected to be tricked twice in one day.

Tang Qi blinked, feigning innocence.

"I'm just a messenger; his breaking the agreement has nothing to do with me.

Besides..."

He glanced at the Black Snake, who was humming a little tune, and spread his hands.

"You weren't expecting a scoundrel to follow the rules, were you?"